Samoa’s Ryan Paia, another Pacific Youth Leader turned star in the making

SAMOA – Ryan Paia is a star on the rise in Samoa, he has represented Samoa at the 2014 FIBA U18 Oceania Championship, 2015 Pacific Games, the first ever FIBA Pacific Youth Leaders Camp (PYL) and most recently at the Asian Indoor Games.

The 5^th Annual Asian Indoor Games boasted athletes from all over the Asia and Oceania regions representing countries such as powerhouses China and Australia to some lesser known nations of Bhutan and Tuvalu. But this is the beauty of the Asian Indoor Games, countries that may fall short of Olympic qualification have the chance to test themselves against athletes from some of the best sporting nations in the world.

After being selected for the Samoan 3x3 National Team, Paia is now one of these privileged athletes. Paia and team Samoa weren’t just happy to be at the event, they wanted to show that they could compete with the rest of the region.

They did just that, defeating Jordan (21-12), Afghanistan (21-18) and outlasting fellow Oceania nation Guam on their way to the Quarter Finals. Samoa fell to eventual Silver Medallists Iraq by only 3 points but their efforts would have done themselves and their country proud.

FIBA.basketball asked Paia about his experience at the Asian Indoor Games.

"It was an amazing experience and I think it's one of the most incredible moments of my life. I gained some important things from there, a lot of confidence that makes me feel strong and perfected in playing the game, to meet new people and most importantly the improvement of my skills playing the high level of basketball that I'm playing right now."

"I enjoyed almost everything, meeting new people from different countries, the location, their facilities were great and I enjoyed playing the games because it's everything to me."

Paia credited the PYL camp as a big part of his development and preparation for this event and beyond.

"The PYL camp helped me a lot in this event. From PYL camp, I learned so much, not only playing basketball but to be a leader in every situation too. It gave me that feeling of how honourable it is to step up and represent our people and also our country. That really strengthen me and my team."

Paia (left) during his time in Australia for the PYL Camp

During the PYL camp, Paia was able to train under four-time Olympian, former Australian Boomers Coach and three-time Australia National Basketball League championship-winning head coach, Phil Smyth. Accompanying Smyth were former Australian Boomers Glenn Saville and Peter Crawford. Paia was able to work one-on-one with these former Olympians during the week-long camp.

"It was really a massive opportunity and it's a great true honour for me to be with them and to observe them," said Paia. "I think that working with former Australian Olympians is like a once in a lifetime opportunity, on that I believe that some other basketball players wanted so bad to get this opportunity, but I was lucky to get it. Like I said, it feels so good to be with them and it's a golden opportunity which I'm so grateful for."

Paia is not the only PYL athlete to test their skills on the big stage, FIBA.basketball recently featured Indigenous Australian Jess McDowell-White who went from Pacific Youth Leader to Golden Girl after winning a gold medal for Australia in the FIBA U17 Oceania Championships 2017 in Guam.

FIBA is extremely proud of these athletes and to have had a small part in their development through the Pacific Youth Leaders camp initiative. The PYL camp was made possible by Australian Government funding through the Pacific Sports Partnership Program.

FIBA